Wireless/Cellular Broadband Info?

[Pianoman]

Wandering if anyone has tried the wireless broadband that Verizon, AT & T (DataConnect) etc. offer through their cellular networks?

I live in a rural area that doesn't have DSL, Cable, etc. available. Up to this point satellite has been my only hi speed option. I'm wanting to do remote log in to my work computer & from what I've read the upload delay on satellite causes problems with this? I've had 1 person tell me they could do this through the Verizon service. Also wandering if Vonage would work in this setup?

Verizon & AT & T both have a 5 GB plan - but in the scheme of things - I'm also not sure how close I might come to that limit doing remote log in, VOIP, etc? They give some estimates on useage if you were uploading music files, etc. If anyone has any experience/knowledge on this - would appreciate your thoughts!

Mike

[RamboPreacher]

vonage is voice over IP, I am not sure - do they have HS interent, or do they use HS internet for voice/phone? (I haven't tried.)

I have tried satellite VPN, and the delay doesn't work well with the vpn client we use. you will have to ask your IT department if that will work with the VPN they use. There may be some VPN clients that will be okay with the delays involved.

as for cellular broadband, I am familiar with verizon and sprint. the challenge here is that even if you get a signal where you are, you may not be in teh are that had HS coverage. I work in the capital city of the state, and there is no HS verizon or sprint coverage. I can get signals from either, and it works, but it is only just about dial up speeds; so I can only use them if i really neeeeeed to. - they do work for VPN (even though not HS internet).

FOr the cellular broadband - you will want to check with their online coverage maps as well as a local rep, if at all possible. The maps aren't all that accurate.

In many rural areas, there are RF-wireless options, sometimes as well. may have to research for that, though. it is really HS, internet and it is RF broadcast, and you have to have a line of site antenna and converter. I have been through this as well before we had digital cable - worked for VPN, but it is line of sight and I was on the edge of acceptable signal strength - so any kind of rain storm or even a heavy fog would interfere with Internet.

I have satellite TV, but because I need VPN, I also bought digital cable. turned out that when I got digital cable for Internet, it was only a few dollars more for basic digital cable service, so I used that before local TV was available on satellite. Now I use cable tv only when it is storming really bad and satellite tv is out.

[Paully_44]

I have a Dell laptop and have an AT&T UMTS SIM card I use for wireless. I just ran a speed test and I am getting 1.4MB download & 361k upload. Cant complain. when I need to get connect to work for oncall duties, I easily can from just about anywhere.

Last year when my son was playing football, I was able to go to practice, remote in to work and do some code pushes all from the sideline and still help out the remainder of practice.

[Pianoman]

vonage is voice over IP, I am not sure - do they have HS interent, or do they use HS internet for voice/phone?

Sorry to confuse - I meant I wandered if Vonage would work over the cellular wireless network (I don't believe Vonage offers HS Internet.) If so - I would possibly consider dropping the unlimited calling plan from my landline phone & adding Vonage instead.

I had thought about doing that anyway & using my cell phone more - but every time I think about it - my cell battery is dead & I keep telling myself that I'm glad I had the landline to fall back on (I'd have to bump my cell package up as well).

You folks that have access to DSL or Cable Internet have it so nice!

[RamboPreacher]

vonage is voice over IP, I am not sure - do they have HS interent, or do they use HS internet for voice/phone?

Sorry to confuse - I meant I wandered if Vonage would work over the cellular wireless network (I don't believe Vonage offers HS Internet.) If so - I would possibly consider dropping the unlimited calling plan from my landline phone & adding Vonage instead.

I had thought about doing that anyway & using my cell phone more - but every time I think about it - my cell battery is dead & I keep telling myself that I'm glad I had the landline to fall back on (I'd have to bump my cell package up as well).

You folks that have access to DSL or Cable Internet have it so nice!

oh, i see...
yes, it should work on HS cellular (provided it is actually HS, as mentioned)

i have seriously thought about canceling my land line service as well. all three of us at home have cell phones. but my sons is a wally world pay as you go one. my wifes plan is $9 a month that was grandfathered in from a decade ago with 30 anytime minutes, so she usually leaves it off unless she is calling someone. and my blackberry is a work freebee. so have opted to stay the land line for now.

have you checked for RF-HS internet in your area?

[Paully_44]

You folks that have access to DSL or Cable Internet have it so nice!

yes we do and I dont take it for granted. when we first moved in to our home, Dialup was my only option. Trying to do oncall work related tasks over dialup was painful. In some cases, I could launch a process get in to my car and drive 40 minutes to work and get there before my process would complete.

I love broadband.

[RamboPreacher]

You folks that have access to DSL or Cable Internet have it so nice!

yes we do and I dont take it for granted. when we first moved in to our home, Dialup was my only option. Trying to do oncall work related tasks over dialup was painful. In some cases, I could launch a process get in to my car and drive 40 minutes to work and get there before my process would complete.

I love broadband.

ditto.
i have tried everything available, dsl is still not here, but at least digital cable/internet is now!

I nearly started my own ISP and bought a t1!

[Full Quiver]

I live in Nashville, TN and most of the city does not have DSL access. BellSouth did alot of advertising and yet not alot of system building.